Carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lahana’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lahana’ having medium size flowers. The flower color is a burgundy stained pink base with a burgundy splash broad picotee. The burgundy color on the flower&#39;s petal edge appears to stain the lighter white background of the center of the flower petals giving the flowers an attractive and distinctive look.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPC Lahana’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘CFPC Lahana’.

‘CFPC Lahana’, identified as selection no. 000320, originated from a cross made by Oscar T. Hasegawa in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. The female parent of the new variety is an unknown seedling and the male parent is an unknown seedling. The new variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Lahana’ is a potted spray-type of carnation plant variety having medium size flowers. The flower color is a burgundy stained pink base with a burgundy splash broad picotee. The burgundy color on the flower's petal edge appears to stain the lighter white background of the center of the flower petals giving the flowers an attractive and distinctive look.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETIES

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ are similar to plants of the patent pending variety ‘CFPC Lani’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/177,825) in plant habit and growth rate. However, under similar growing conditions in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ differed from plants of ‘CFPC Lani’ in at least the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ produces burgundy flowers with         a burgundy picotee while ‘CFPC Lani’ produces bright purple         flowers with a purple picotee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 119 days from date of planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ is of plants 119 days from the date of planting grown in a commercial greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. in the month of December. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C. during the day under light conditions of about 12 hours. Plants are daylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growth regulators are not required for production.

The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Pinched plants are about 21.6 cm tall and about 17.8 cm in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 4.9 cm with a crown of about 1.9 cm. Foliage is generally about 11.1 cm long and about 0.8 cm at the widest point. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4½ inches. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with the first appearance of color in the buds occurring at about 100-110 days after planting of cuttings. The commercial classification of the new carnation variety is a potted spray-type.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a potted spray-type. The plant and flower measurements and foliage size are established as an average using standard commercial cultural practices. In the description of this new carnation variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

-   Height (cm): 21.6. -   Form: Herbaceous. -   Growing habit: Semi-upright. -   Branching characteristics: 4-6 laterals per stem. -   Breaking action: Excellent, 5-6 breaks per plant with strong     straight stems. -   First appearance of color in buds: 100-110 days after planting. -   Vigor: Excellent. -   Shelf life: 21 days. -   Blooming habit: Spray type. -   Blooming season: Year round. -   Lastingness of blooms: About 10 days. -   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): Good resistance to     soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. graminearium,     and root rots such as damping off, water molds and similar types, as     is typical of carnations. -   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed. -   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None     observed. -   Mutation prone: No. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Side shoot cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—18 days with soil temperatures of 18° C. to             21° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Good fibrous system. -   Growth treatments or special conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Stem:     -   -   Diameter.—Base (cm): 0.6. Apex (cm): 0.2.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Cross section.—Edged.         -   Color.—Internode: 139A after removal of waxy coating. Node:             138C after removal of waxy coating. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 20-22. -   Arrangement of leaves: Bi-lateral along the stem.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Long, narrow, lanceolate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 0.7-1.0. Length (cm): 12.1.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Edge.—Smooth.         -   Surface texture.—Top: smooth. Bottom: smooth. -   Leaf venation: Prominent mid-vein at underside. -   Leaf longitudinal axis: Rolled. -   Leaf cross section (upper side): Concave. -   Leaf color:     -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—139A after removal of waxy coating.         -   Mature leaf, under side.—137A after removal of waxy coating.         -   Young leaf, upper side.—139A after removal of waxy coating.         -   Young leaf, under side.—137A after removal of waxy coating. -   Leaf waxy layer: Strong (foliage and stems have a noticeable waxy     coating which is easily wiped away, all colors of leaves and stem     are determined after the waxy coating is removed).

FLOWER

-   Flower appearance: Matte. -   Flower type: Double. -   Flower profile of upper part of corolla: Convex. -   Flower profile of lower part of corolla: Flat. -   Flower shape: Domed, round. -   Number of blossoms per branch: 12-14.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.9.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—4.9. -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepals number.—5.         -   Length (cm).—0.8.         -   Width (cm).—0.7.         -   Color.—Outer side: 144A. Inner side: 147D.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Smooth.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Form/shape.—Fan shaped.         -   Petal edge.—Serrated: Width (mm): 1-3. Depth (mm): 1-3. Edge             type: crenate-dentate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Petal surface of blade.—Undulating.         -   Number per flower.—26.         -   Outer petals.—Length (cm): 4.6. Width (cm): 2.7.         -   Inner petals.—Length (cm): 4.0. Width (cm): 2.2. -   Fragrance: Slight sweet. -   Flower bud (at onset of color):     -   -   Length (cm).—2.5.         -   Diameter (cm).—0.9.         -   Form/shape.—Ovoid. -   Flower color:     -   -   1. General tonality.—Burgundy stained pink base color with a             burgundy splash broad picotee.         -   2. Petals, upper surface.—51B.         -   3. Petals, lower surface.—51B.         -   4. Petals, edge.—35A.         -   5. Petals, center.—145D.         -   6. Early bud.—35A. -   Color distribution: Striated-speckled-shading off. -   Petal macule: Present. -   Flower progression with age: Retains color well. -   Other distinguishing characteristics: Occasional light striations     (very rare).

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium: Pistillate.     -   -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length (cm).—2.5.         -   Pistil color.—Whiter than 155D at base and outer surface,             51B on inner surface of stigmas (stigma hairs).         -   Stigma number.—2.         -   Stigma color.—Outer surface: white with a purple flush             (whiter than 155D, purple 71A). Inner surface: 51B (Stigma             hairs).         -   Stigma shape.—Filamentous.         -   Style color.—Whiter than 155D.         -   Style number.—2. -   Ovary:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Base: 145D. Body: 144B. Apex: 144B. -   Androecium: None produced. -   Fruit and seeds: None produced. 

1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 